Andy Kurtzig is the founder of Pearl, an advanced AI search engine designed specifically to enhance quality and efficiency in the professional services industry. Pearl connects users to a vast marketplace of experts across various fields, allowing for real-time validation of AI-generated data. Pearl is powered by the JustAnswer expert network, a platform Andy founded in 2003, that connects people with experts such as doctors, accountants, lawyers and veterinarians for immediate online help. Prior to founding JustAnswer in 2003, Kurtzig founded and later sold eBenefits, a cloud-based Human Resources application. Before that, Kurtzig developed and sold ANSER, a software program for the newspaper industry, while still in college. Kurtzig is also an angel investor, with successful investments including StubHub (acquired by eBay) and iLike (acquired by MySpace), and an active philanthropist, with a passion for finding a cure for juvenile diabetes. Kurtzig holds a B.S. in Business Administration from UC Berkeley. When he’s not working, Kurtzig’s interests include spending time with his wife and his three children.
In the episode, Andy talks about the importance of pairing AI with human judgment to get the best and most reliable results. He highlights common challenges with AI, such as ensuring quality, managing risks, and figuring out sustainable business models. Instead of relying solely on AI, Andy stresses the need for human oversight to build trust and maintain accuracy. At Pearl, this balance between technology and experts is central to their mission of making professional services more accessible. Throughout the conversation, Andy also reflects on how cultivating a strong company culture and values early on plays a key role in successfully merging AI with real human expertise.
